Homes to be built for families

Habitat for Humanity Leeward Oahu is looking for families interested in building and owning their own homes on the Waianae Coast.

The nonprofit group will accept applications at its next orientation meeting, 5 p.m. Feb. 27 at Waianae United Methodist Church. Applicants who have a steady income but earn 50 percent or less than the median area income, have land and are willing to complete 500 hours of "sweat equity" by volunteering with Habitat may apply. Call 696-7882 to register.

Coming this weekend
in your Star-Bulletin:

Saturday

Keeping Faith: Boos, Bronx cheers and other rude noises are expected in the sanctuary when people celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim. The congregation tries to drown out the sound of the villain's name when the scroll of Esther, known as the megillah, is read.

Sunday

Today: For the Kims, learning is the family business. Together they have built the educational Web site "True Learning," offering activities for children ages 3 to 6. Also Sunday, it's Oscar night. A look at the racial diversity among the nominees this year, and the critics' picks.

Business: The threat of class-action lawsuits, which has become prevalent in the building industry, is driving up the cost of homes in Hawaii as local firms are increasingly restricted by their insurers from doing residential projects or are forced to substantially raise the price on a high-risk residential job. Also in Sunday's Business section, overbooked airline passengers can reject cash or vouchers and take their case to court, a New York attorney says.

Police, Fire, Courts

Star-Bulletin staff

WEST OAHU

Neighbor's call leads to Ewa Beach arrest

A 31-year-old man was arrested yesterday after being seen hanging around a neighborhood.

A woman arriving at her Ewa Beach home at about 1:55 a.m. saw the suspect acting suspiciously around the neighborhood cul-de-sac. Police stopped a suspect a short distance away who had been seen putting a bag into his van.

The bag allegedly had been stolen from a 51-year-old woman's vehicle. The suspect also allegedly had drugs on him. He was arrested on charges of unauthorized motor vehicle entry and promoting dangerous drugs.

HONOLULU

2 women held in forgery cases

Police arrested two people in separate counterfeiting cases Wednesday.

A 31-year-old woman in a transitional home on Vancouver Drive was arrested at 11 a.m. yesterday on four counts of forgery. Her landlord alleged that she had paid her rent in counterfeit $100 bills on four occasions.

A 47-year-old woman also was arrested for forgery after allegedly using a fake $50 bill in a restaurant in Ewa Beach at about 2:40 p.m. yesterday.

Kalihi man held in sex assault of 3 juveniles

Police said the victims, of Red Hill, said they had been assaulted by the man, an acquaintance, between November 2004 and last November.

Police arrested the man for investigation of two counts of first-degree sexual assault and six counts of third-degree sexual assault.

WAIKIKI

Evidence indicates arson at high-rise

Police have opened an arson investigation after security guards at a Waikiki high-rise found a gasoline can with a lit rag stuffed in it early yesterday. A rag had been lit at a Waikiki business early that morning.

Police said a smoke detector was activated at about 12:15 a.m. on the 23rd floor of the building, a business center.

Security extinguished the fire before it spread, police said.

Burglary at hotel leads to arrest of man, 23

A 23-year-old man was arrested at the Waikiki Banyan early Wednesday morning on burglary and drug charges.

A security officer making floor checks at the hotel saw an open room door and a man inside whom he thought was the occupant.

The real occupants later filed a report that they had been burglarized.

The suspect was located at around midnight and arrested on a charge of first-degree burglary. He was searched, and a pipe with residue was found, police said. He was booked on charges of promoting a dangerous drug and drug paraphernalia.

WINDWARD OAHU

Drugs, alcohol played no role in Kailua crash

The city Medical Examiner's Office says drugs and alcohol were not factors in a fatal crash Thursday that killed two 18-year-old women.

Whitney Fergerstrom and Leshay Gusman died after crashing head-on into a pickup truck on Kapaa Quarry Road in Kailua. Police said speed was a factor in the crash.

The Medical Examiner's Office confirmed yesterday that the toxicology tests had come up negative. The two women were the 13th and 14th traffic fatalities on Oahu so far this year.

LATE / BREAKING ITEMS

2 juveniles arrested in brutal attack

Police arrested two juveniles early today after they allegedly attacked a man in Waikiki.

Police said the suspects punched and kicked the victim until he lost consciousness at about 1:30 a.m. Police would not release the age or gender of the two juveniles.